Fulcrum: V Plague Book 12 by Dirk Patton Read Free Book Online Page B

deserts thrown in for good
measure.  Personally, I’ll take the deserts.  Can’t stand all the
bugs that live in jungles, and I’m not a fan of humidity.”
    “What about snakes and scorpions and spiders?  I
thought the desert was full of them?”
    “They’re there.  But I wouldn’t say full . 
And you learn to look before you step or sit.  Generally, there’s nothing
in the desert that will come after you.  Leave it alone, it’ll leave you
alone.  Just remember rule number one.”
    “What’s that?”  She asked, turning to look at me.
    “Never put on a pair of boots that you haven’t shaken
out.  Scorpions like tight, dark places, like the inside of a boot.”
    “I’ve noticed you do that.  Thought it was just some
kind of ritual, knocking them against something like that.”
    “Nope,” I shook my head.  “I was maybe five years old
when I learned that lesson.  Was messing around in my parents’ closet and
thought I’d put on Dad’s boots.  Just stuck my feet in.  Scorpion got
me on my big toe.  That’s one of those mistakes you’ll only ever make once
in your life.”
    “How bad are the stings?”
    “Bad enough, if you aren’t allergic.  You’ll be in
pretty bad pain for a week.  If you have an allergy, like to bee stings,
it can kill you quick.”
    Rachel shuddered and fell silent.  The light was fading
fast, and I lowered the pair of night vision goggles I’d taken from the
armory.  We were going to run dark and hopefully not draw the attention of
any passing Russian planes.  Sure, they’d spot us if they were using a
thermal scanner, but unless they were out patrolling specifically for vehicle
traffic, we’d probably go unnoticed.  At least, that’s what I hoped.
    We drove for another half an hour without seeing a single
sign of civilization, other than a lone road sign.  Rachel had settled in and
seemed to be on the verge of drifting off.  Dog had retreated to the rear
seat and was on his back, legs up in the air, snoring loud enough that I was
sure the windows were vibrating.
    “Major!”
    Long’s voice in my radio earpiece startled me out of the
near hypnotic state I was in from driving.
    “Go,” I answered.
    “You got a civilian radio in your vehicle?”
    I glanced around but didn’t spot one.  They weren’t
standard equipment in military vehicles, but a lot of the guys would strap a
cheap boom-box in for a little entertainment on long patrols.
    “Negative.  What’s up?”
    “You should hear this.”
    “Copy.  We’re stopping.”
    I lightly touched the brakes and slowed the Humvee, staying
in the middle of the road.  Rachel sat up straight and looked around.
    “What’s going on?”
    “Long’s got something on a civilian radio frequency he wants
me to hear.”
    Dog woke up and scrambled to his feet as the vehicle came to
a stop.  I left the engine running and looked all around before opening
the door and stepping out, my rifle in my hands.  Rachel and Dog followed
a moment later.
    Long had stopped within a couple of feet of my back bumper,
Sam tight behind him.  The SEAL officer stepped out when he saw me,
scanned the area behind us, then walked forward to meet at the middle vehicle.
    The armored window was slid open, and I could hear a voice
as I approached Long’s Hummer.  He and Igor stayed inside, staring at a
small radio that was rubber banded to a grab bar.  The voice was slightly
static covered, but clear enough to tell it was an English speaking woman.
    “… will repeat.”
    I only heard those two words, then there was nothing but
static.
    “What was that?”  I asked.
    Long held up a finger to tell me to hang on, keeping his
attention focused on the radio.  A few seconds later, the voice returned.
    “We have moved to sector five.  Sectors one, three,
four and six are overrun.  Charlie and Delta are in sector two.  All
units report at designated times.  This message will repeat.”

10
     
    “How long have you been